world

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has issued a firm warning that her government will take necessary action to protect its citizens if a major crisis erupts in Taiwan. Speaking on Monday, Takaichi emphasized that Japan regards Taiwan as an issue with significant implications for its security alliance with the United States. “If a crisis occurs in Taiwan and U.S. forces are attacked, Japan will intervene,” Takaichi said. “Failing to act would weaken the security partnership between Tokyo and Washington.” Her remarks come amid increasing indications from China of potential control measures over Taiwan, heightening fears of a military confrontation. Joint Operations with the U.S. During a televised discussion on TV Asahi, Takaichi spoke about the possibility of a joint operation w...

Thousands of Indian professionals aspiring to work in the United States now face mounting uncertainty as H-1B visa interview slots have been postponed until 2027. The Trump administration’s increasingly stringent visa rules, coupled with steep fee hikes, have created a crisis for applicants, affecting both careers and personal lives. According to Financial Express, major U.S. embassies in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata no longer have regular interview slots available. Many applicants have been left in limbo, unable to determine when they might travel to the United States. The disruption began in December 2025, when H-1B interviews originally scheduled for March 2026 were rescheduled. What was initially portrayed as a temporary adjustment has now escalated, with recent no...

Amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran, the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the Middle East, a move confirmed by U.S. Central Command. The deployment has fueled speculation that President Donald Trump could authorize military action against Iran at any moment. Tehran, however, has warned that any attack would be met with a swift and powerful response. While Iran cannot match the United States in terms of overall military power, it has invested heavily over the past decades in building a formidable missile arsenal—one of the largest in the Middle East. Iran’s Missile Advantage Iran is estimated to possess over 3,000 missiles, including precision-guided systems such as the Fateh‑110, designed to strike naval targets operating in narro...

Experts have warned that China and Pakistan are actively working to reduce India’s influence in its neighboring countries, including Bangladesh and Myanmar, creating new geopolitical challenges for Delhi. Myanmar shares borders with several Indian states, making developments there critical to India’s regional security. On January 24, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Swe arrived in Pakistan for a four-day visit aimed at improving bilateral ties. Analysts suggest that this move reflects Pakistan’s increasing influence in Myanmar, complementing China’s already strong presence in the country. Both Pakistan and China have historically strained relations with India, heightening concerns over India’s diminishing leverage in the region. China’s Growing Influence Since the 2021 military cou...

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has made an unexpected four-day visit to the United Arab Emirates following the UAE’s cancellation of the Islamabad International Airport deal and the signing of a defense agreement with India. Relations between Pakistan and the UAE have grown increasingly tense, with Islamabad historically dependent on Gulf loans to sustain its struggling economy. After Pakistan aligned more closely with Saudi Arabia, the UAE turned its attention to India, culminating in the recent defense pact. In a related move, the UAE withdrew from the Islamabad airport project, prompting Zardari’s urgent visit. Zardari Arrives in Abu Dhabi President Zardari and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for discussions on trade, economic coo...

With Bangladesh’s general elections scheduled for February 12, the situation for minority communities, particularly Hindus, has grown increasingly perilous. Attacks on Hindu communities have surged in recent months, raising serious concerns about communal safety ahead of the polls. Reports indicate that the violence against Hindus began after the departure of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 but has intensified following the announcement of the upcoming elections. Among the recent victims is Deepu Chandra Das, who was brutally killed by a mob over allegations of insulting the Prophet. Pattern of Violence Linked to Political Strategy A Bangladeshi political leader has revealed a worrying pattern behind the attacks, claiming that communal violence is being orchestrated as...

The long-anticipated free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union, hailed as the “Mother of All Deals,” has drawn sharp criticism from the United States. While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bassett described the agreement as a betrayal of Washington, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Asia expert Evan Feigenbaum openly rebuked the Trump administration for damaging U.S.-India relations. Feigenbaum argued that the U.S. has been wrongly blaming India for geopolitical tensions, citing India’s purchase of Russian oil amid the Ukraine war. “The claim that the war in Ukraine is happening because of India’s oil purchases rather than Vladimir Putin is entirely absurd. Russian oil is not the only source of tension between the U.S. and India,” Feigenbaum wrote in res...

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned European lawmakers on Monday that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States. Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, Rutte emphasized that for Europe to operate independently, it would need to more than double its current defense spending. “Anyone who believes that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the United States is dreaming. You cannot do it. We cannot do it. We need each other,” Rutte said. Nuclear Capabilities and Defense Spending Rutte further cautioned that if Europe insists on acting alone, it would need to increase defense spending to 10% of GDP and develop its own nuclear capabilities—a process that would cost billions of euros. “In such a scenario, you would lose the America...

Ukraine has reportedly developed its own long-range, low-altitude subsonic cruise missile, similar in capability to the American Tomahawk, after failing to acquire such weapons from the United States. Named the Flamingo FP-5, the missile has been claimed to target key Russian military infrastructure, including facilities producing the Su-57 fighter jet. According to reports, the missile’s first operational use was in August last year, when Ukraine launched three Flamingo missiles at a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) post in Armyansk, Crimea. In September, Ukraine reportedly targeted Russia’s Skif-M facility in Belgorod — a production site for Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 jets — using four Flamingo missiles. Ukrainian sources now claim that all four missiles hit their targets, causing ...

Recent weeks have seen growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on several issues, particularly regarding influence in Yemen and Sudan. Experts warn that these disagreements could have wider regional implications. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized the importance of maintaining strong ties with the UAE, describing the relationship as essential for regional stability. “From our perspective, relations with the UAE are extremely important. They are a key element of regional stability. Saudi Arabia has always been keen to maintain positive and constructive relations with the UAE as an important partner within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” Prince Faisal said during remarks in Warsaw, reported by Al Arabiya News. Acknowledging ...